Vehicle-spring.



1. H. BANKA & J. WYHALEN.

VEHICLE SPRING.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 9. 1916.

1,216,922. 2 Patented Feb. 20,1917.

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aonml ahil t flm OHN WHALEN, or BATTLE GREEK, uranium.

VEHICLE-SPRING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

ra enteat eb. 2 0.1917."

Application filed October a, 1916. ser 1a1nu;124,e54.- i

To all whom) it 'may concern;

Be it known that we, JOHN H. BAN A and Joiix \VImnaiv, citizens of the United States, residing at Battle Creek, in the county of Calhounand State of Michigan, lia'i'i" invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vehicle-Springs; and we herebydeclare that the following isa full, (-lear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying'drawings which form part of this specification.

This inventionis a novel improvement in springs particularly designed for useon automobiles but adaptable for use onother vehicles and other purposes'in the arts Where a yieldable cushioning spring is desired which will absorb and cushion shocks in an efiicient manner. V

The object of the invention is to provide a novel compound cushioning spring adapted to absorbjars and lessen shocks transmitted .fromythe road to the vehicle body when applied-to vehicles. A further object" is to providea spring which can be readily adjusted to suit difierent loads.

The invention consists in-the novel combination, construction and arrangementof parts of the'sprin hereinafter summarized in the claims, an the accompanying drawings illustrate one practical embodiment of the invention, and the following description of said embodiment will enable others skilled in the art to adopt and use the invention.

In said drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of an automobile providedwith our novel spring.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of one of the springs, as attached to a vehicle, showing the parts thereof in normal position.

Fig. 3;is aside elevation of the spring showing the displacement of spring elements under stress.

Fig. 4 is a top view of the spring showing guides to prevent longitudinal vibration thereof. V

Fig. 5 isa sectional view of the spring on line 55 Fig. 3.

Fig.6 is an end guide bracket. 7

'Fig. 7 is a detail view of one of the levers.

Our spring, as we term it, consists of a combinati'o'nbf springs, levers, and frame arrang'e'din a peculiar manner and adapted to operate as hereinafter pointed out.

As illustrated in the drawings the spring view of the spring and comprises preferably rectangular frame composed of side bars-1, 1 and'end bars 2' 2 which are rigidly connected to the ends'of the side bars inany suitable manner so as to form a rigid rect'angulan-frame;

Connected to and extending" between the side bars 1, 1* near one end'of t e-rrameare a pair of parallel rods whichare'preferably threaded and shouldered where "they pass through the side -'bars1*and rnaybe rigidly fastened thereto by nuts 3" as indi-f .catedin the drawings. Adjacent the other end of the frame isa pair-of similar rods-3 which are fastened to the side';"bars in a v similar manner. On the rods 3 is strung a lever 7 which is provided with'slot's 7forthe passage of the rods 3 and which will per p mit the lever to be oscillated without binde N ing on the rods.

Theleve'r 7 is rigidly connectedfinterine diate the" rods to a member 6 which is in turn pivoted at c n) a stud 6 ri idly at tached to the side bar 1 and e'xten ing par-'1 allel with and between the rods 3, Alever 7 similar to lever 7 is strung on the a and isprovided with, a' member 6Ipivoted at 6 to a stud 6 rigidly attached to the side bar 1 intermediate'the rod 3*.

seen that'the levers 7,7" are fulcrumed on opposite sides of the frame. I

The levers 7 7 are normally held in po-.

sition intermediate the side bars 1, 1 of the frame by means of suitable springs preferably strung on the rods 3, 3' and interposed between the levers and the sidesof the frame. In the example shown helicalsprings are. employed; such springs, 5, being shown as;

interposed between the lever 7 and the side bar 1, and helical spring 5 being strung on rod 3 between lever 7 and the. side. bar 1. Similar helical springs .5 are showxras strung on rods 3 intermediate the lever 7 and bail; and helical springs 5 are strung on red 3 intermediate lever 7 and barl".

The tension of these springs 5, 5 can be ad justed by means ofnuts 9 strung on red 3 between the side bars 1, l; andthe tension of springs 5 5 can be adjusted by means "of nuts 9 screwed on threaded rods 3 between the side bars 1, 1 and the springs.

'- 1n normal .working position.

a ('to the related double set of Y springs. For

' suitab e ment or oscillation springs; and washers 8 can be interposed between the springs and lever 7".

The levers 7, 7 extend toward the center of the frame and are normall in line, as indicated in Fig. 2; and one 0 these levers may be connected to one member, as the axle, of a vehicle and the other lever is connected to another member, as the bod of the vehicle. In the example shown t e lever 7 is connected in any suitable manner, preferably b a swivel joint indicated at 11 of any body of the vehicle; and the lever 7 may be similarl connected, as by a suitable rocking joint in 'cated at 11, to a bracket or hanger 12 attached to the vehicle axle.

The action of the springs under stress is shown in Fi 3. When the lever 7* receives a shoe from the axle it moves up ward and downward as indicated, flexing one of the lower coiled springs 5 and one of the upper coiled springs 5", the return moveof the lever 7 acting on the companion springs 5", 5. The connection of the body with the lever 7 produces the same action on the related springs,

.It will be seen that thesh'ock'on thewheel or axle is first communicated through lever springs on the frame, and transmitted, with a large part of the shock absorbed, through the lever 7 and its co-acting springs to the vehicle body. In this manner the shock is practically a sorbed by the springs before it body, rendering the vehicle body very smooth riding. The opposed springs on each rod resist each'othe'r so that sudden collapse or recoil from shock'is prevented.

he spring may if desired be yieldingly heldinposition relative to the vehicle or guided in its vertical movements by any suitable means, guides 15 being shown provided with studs 16 en aging openings in brackets 13 which can e attached to the vehicle bodyat a point adjacent the end of the springs; and helical springs 20may be strung on the studs 16 between the brackets 13 and the ides 15 so as to cause guides 15 to yieldingfy engage'the ends of the frame and guidesame, while assisting in holding'it The springs 20 tendto resist eudwise movement of the spring frame and do not interfere with the action of the springs proper.

The spring may be varied in size and strength according to the use for which-it is desired,

departing essentials of the invention. The spring can be easily adjusted to suit any desired load by adjusting the bolts 9, 9 on the rods 3, 3 so as to compress or relax the example ordinarily an autoreaches theand changes may be made in the specific form thereof without from the kind, to a bracket 10 attached to the fulcrum of the I end of said lever with an mobile designed for seven passengers, when used for 0 one or two is not as easy ridterposed between op smoothly for-two passengers as for seven.

What we claim 1s:

1. A spring comprising a frame, a pair of oscillatory levers mounted therein, springs interposed between the levers and opposite sides of the frame atopposite sides of the fulcrums of the levers, the said levers being respectively adapted to be connected to a member to be supported and the support.

2. A ring comprising a retaining frame, a pair 0 'oscillatory levers mounted therein, springs at opposite sides of the fulcrums of the levers and interposed between the opposite sides of the levers and the opposite sides of the frame,.the said levers being respectively adapted to be connected to the member to be supported and a support.

3. In a vehicle spring the comblnation of a frame, an oscillatory lever mounted therea in, springs arrangedetween opposite sides of said lever and opposite sides of the frame at oppgsite sides of the fulcrum of the lever.

.4. a vehicle spring the combination of a frame, an oscillatory lever mounted there- 1n, springs arranged at opposite'sides of the lever and between opposite sides of said lever and the opposite sides of the frame, and means connecting the free object to be supported.

5. In a vehicle spring the combination of a frame, a pair of oscillatory levers mounted therein, springs arranged at opposite sides of the fulcrums of the levers and between said levers and the sides of the frame, and means connecting the free ends of said levers respectively with an object to be supported andbwlith the support, substantially as descrl e 6. A vehicle spring comprising a frame,

levers fulcrumed in' said frame, springs inv osite sides ofsaid levers and the sides 0 the frame, at opposite sldes of the fulcrum' of the levers, the

a pair of rods mounted I therein, a lever strung on said rods,

a fulcrum supporting 8. A vehicle spring comprising a frame, i

of the lever.

a pair of .rods

the levers,

lever; with means the rods, and

said lever intermediate at opposite sides springs strung on the rods 9. A vehicle spring comprising a frame, mounted therein, a lever strung on each pair of rods, a fulcrum supporting each lever intermediate its related rod, springs strung on the rods at opposite sides of the levers, and connections between the lever and the object to be supported and the other lever and the support.

10. A vehicle spring comprising a frame,

a pair of rods mounted therein adgacent each end thereof, a lever strungon each pair of rods, a fulcrum supporting each lever intermediate the rods, a pair of springs strung on each of the rods at o posite sides of the lever, and connections et of one lever and the object to be supported andthefree end of. the other lever and the I support; 4

11. A spring comprising a frame, a pair of oscillatory levers mounted therein, springs interposed; tween the levers and frame at opposite s d s of the fulcrums of adapted to be connected to a member to be supported and the support; with means for adjustingthe tension of the springs to vary the strength of the spring as a whole.

12. A vehicle-spring comprising a frame, a pair of rods mounted therein, a lever strung on said rods, a fulcrum supporting said lever intermediate the rods, and' sprin strung on the rods at opposite sidesof the for ad usting the tension of the springs to vary t e strength of the spring as a whole. 3

13. A vehicle sprin comprisin a frame, a pair of rods mounte therein ad acent each end thereof, a lever strung on each pair of rods, a fulcrum supporting each lever interween the free end A the said levers being respectively mediate the rods, a pair of springs strung'on each "of' the rods at opposite sides of the lever, and connections between the free end of one lever and the object to be supported and the free end of the other lever and the support; with means for adjusting the tension of each of the said springs to, vary the strength of thespring as a whole.

14. A spring comprising a frame, of oscillatory levers mounted therein, springs interposed between the levers and frame atopposite sides of the fulcrums of "the levers,jthe said levers beingrespectively to a member to be- 16. A vehicle spring comprising a frame,

a pair of rods mounted therein ad acent each end thereof, a lever strung on each pair of rods, a fulcrum supporting each lever intermediate the rods,'a pair of springs strung on each of the rods at opposite sides of the lever, andconnections between the free end of onelever and the object to be supported and the free Lend (:if this other lever arid the sup ort; wit i es or preventin on tudiiial displace ir ient of the frame. g g1 I In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own we aflix our signatures.

. JOHN H. BANKA.

JOHN WHALEN.

0011:: at this potent Ilia he obtained for live cents each, by addreuh: the. Commissioner of ramm.

Washington, D. 0."

the support; with i a pair fulcrums of the'levers and 

